Vultures are often overlooked in the animal kingdom but ecologists, animal experts, & conservationists are the first to point out what an extremely important role they play; they’re “nature’s clean-up crew.” Helping to keep the earth cleaner & disease free, vultures are unfortunately dwindling in numbers due to loss of habitat, electrocution on power lines, declining food sources, and poisoning of food carcasses. Global vulture populations have declined by more than 50% over the past 15 years.

Disney’s Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) has been working to help vultures thrive since 2000 and on September 2 “Vulture Awareness Day” will be celebrated at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in hopes of raising interest and awareness. Disney guests will have the opportunity to meet & greet with a vulture, take part in arts & crafts activities, try on a life-sized replica of vulture wings, and learn about vulture digestion.